#witch writing

[the-coolest-marshmallow]

When you're a writer and a witch - shadow work looks like a slow burn fanfiction using a mother/daughter dynamic to heal your inner child.

[missnancywrites]

Morning

I woke up from a faded dream and everything around me was grey. I don't remember it being so dull and colorless the night before, but I'm not too worried. The colors always come back eventually. My chest feels weighed down, but I haven't done anything yet.

The blankets are warm, it feels like a cocoon. I could go back and wander my dreams, they were always more appealing than stepping out of my covers. I don't remember what I was doing in the night sky, but it was nice…

There's a low rumble that comes from outside, my lips curl up in a smile. I don't think it'll be warm outside but it'll be wild. Good.

But not yet.

I took a deep breath in, drawing the darkness in the room into the weight on my chest. My breath carries it out and it disappears in nothingness. I take in another breath, this time the grey tones in my room started slipping away. I stopped short and giggled, the thunder was rolling closer to my window. It was calling to me.

"Not yet."

I expel all the grey, the colors breathe again.

I roll onto my side, I hadn't noticed the little ticks of my clock right next to my ear. It was almost noon, again. My lips curl into a frown for a moment, but a sudden symphony of knocking at my window pushes it all away. I feel my chest swell up, but I hold it down along with another laugh.

"I already said, not yet."

One last breath before I go. The pleasant swelling in my heart grows and starts to glow, filling every inch of the body, I stretch my limbs out to help extend it to the tips of my fingers. I sigh relieved, and light comes through to fill every corner of the room.

Everything was warm now.

The thunder at my window was getting worse by the second. I figure I've stalled long enough and slipped out of bed so I can let them inside. I step up to the large windowpane and lift the curtain, there it was in all its impatient glory.

The sky was filled with rolling grey clouds, with sparks of lightning constantly pushing their limits to escape. Of course, the clouds would fight back. I could see the fury of the wind in the fields as it went around and about. And the thunder, it kept knocking on my window, waiting for me to let them in. It was the energy of a wild child, and always hungry for attention.

It hated when I'd tease, but still loved me the most.

I lift the pane and let the thunder roll in, it brought an entire orchestra wherever it went. It was beautiful, my heart felt at ease and ready to go. I breathe softly and close the window behind them.

"Good morning…"

[lokifreign]

321

[witchinfiction]

Welcome to Witchin’ Fiction

Hello, I’m Eloren! Some of you already know me as Erica, but I’ve decided to use a pen name for my witchy fiction to differentiate it form my “general” fiction. I thought I’d write this intro post to explain how Witchin’ Fiction came about.

This whole experience started out as a little writing exercise. I wanted something to do to warm up my writing brain after a winter hibernation, so I decided to re-write a beginning I’d done quite a few years ago. At that time, I was leaning more towards writing Young Adult fiction. These days I tend much more towards general, adult-oriented fiction. Not that I look down on YA at all, it’s just that my focus has shifted. I don’t read as much YA as I used to either.

Anyway, I didn’t have the actual piece of writing (I don’t think, maybe it is still in one of my may folders somewhere), but I remembered the bones and most of the flesh of it. The main character certainly, the secondary characters, and the others who were in the scene. So I thought about how to alter the scene to bring the main character from fifteen to thirty-something, and how to put the dramatic action in when she was removed from the group of teenagers.

I wrote the exercise, and something sparked. It was fun. I wanted to see where it could go. I also wanted to write something less emotionally taxing than the book that went on hold during my hibernation. So I began to think about these characters and their lives, and what could be going on around them. I kept adding to the exercise, little bits, not pushing myself the way I usually do. I want to keep this part of my writing life lighter and more fun. Am I going to skimp on my stories and avoid writing about real life issues? Heck no, that’s not how I operate. But I don’t want to write the same kind of psychological drama that I do in my “regular” fiction. I want my Witchin’ Fiction to be real, but not gritty realism. Okay, my last book may not have had the gritty realism in the main narrative, but the twist at the end gave it a punch of it.

I want Witchin’ Fiction to be about self exploration and friendship, making connections and finding truths. They won’t always be nice, love and light truths, but they will always be important ones.

So far there a few different types of witchcraft I want my characters to practice - currently I have a kitchen witch and a wannabe who’s going to be a nocturnal witch, and in later books I hope to encounter a herbal witch, a forest witch, a science witch, a bone witch, and a death witch.

As on now (November 2019), I’ve written just over a quarter of my planned word count for the first Witchin’ Fiction book. I didn’t hit my word count goal for October, but that’s okay. Life happens, and I have chronic illnesses to deal with. I’m going to do my best to be firm with myself for the next two months so I can get the other three-quarters written by the end of the year - not least because I’ve promised myself a nice big silver pentacle pendant from my favourite witchy shop if when I do!

I have plans to spend a good six months on editing, formatting and production once the manuscript is finished, and I plan to launch on the Winter Solstice (I’m in Australia, so that’s June 21st!), which fortunately lines up with the monthly community market where I sell (or at least attempt to sell!) my books already. So nice and neat for me!

I’ve done some work on branding and marketing and organising pre-promotion and competition stuff already, so I feel like I’m ahead of the curve, which is nice because the last two books I was flying by the seat of my pants with marketing and promotion.

I’m really chuffed that Witchin’ Fiction doesn’t seem to have been used much at all - I was expecting it to have been snapped up, but I had my pick of URL format for it on tumblr, facebook and twitter. I did consider making and instagram as well, but I have three instagram accounts already and I’m not great at updating them, so it’s probably not worth my while making another one! I can use my existing writing one (MistedWords) and tag my Witchin’ Fiction stuff if I want/remember to.

When I reach the halfway point in my predicted word count, I’m going to do a cover reveal, and share with my personal facebook friends and followers of Misted Words the fact that my writing exercise has turned into a full-blown second-stream of writing. I think it’s too encompassing to even be called a side-project now!

So, if you’ve found Witchin’ Fiction through one route or another - welcome! I hope your interest has been piqued and that you will want to come along for the ride. 

~ Eloren 💜🧹🌙

[bone-deep-witch]

Book Update.

I didn’t make much progress on my witchy novel last month - due to health issues for both myself and my partner, mainly - but over the weekend we had a book fair at the local community space and it got me all inspired. I came home on the Saturday night and got my branding stuff all sorted on Vistaprint, and after a couple of days to recuperate I got myself sorted to aim for my November goal.

I really want to get the first draft done by the end of the year, and then spend a good six months on the editing and production so I can have my launch for the Winter Solstice, which is one of the community market days.

So far I’m at a smidge over 16K words and I’m aiming for 60-65K. I have a fair way to go, but I can do it. I just have to be firm with myself and make sure I write on the days I feel less than stellar.

I was going to reward myself with a cauldron mug for getting to my goal in October, alas that passed me by. I’m not sure if I’m going to try for the same reward again for November or come up with something different. I’m quite bad at rewarding myself, so coming up with ideas is always a struggle. If I hit The End by NYE, though, I’m going to buy myself a nice big silver pentacle pendant from Wishing Well in Hobart. Further incentive to knuckle down!

[watch4witch]

Witchy Writing?

I enjoy writing a lot and think it would be interesting to try to incorporate some witchcraft into my writing, or some writing into my witchcraft. I might post some short things here just to try it out! My plan would be to sit down and write a post, not thinking to plan. I might try to center on some things like healing, cleansing, and maybe even some good luck. I’m excited to try!

[plague-rat-judas]

Could you write a bit about water and/or storm witches?

A/N: Thank you for the request! I found this quite easy to write due to water/storm witches being quite common or popular (especially in my own Coven). Anyway, I hope you enjoy~

-Their form of Divination would mainly be dowsing rods or pendulums

-Mainly taking part in Divination when its dry outside or in the case of a drought; using the dowsing rods to help find an underground water source.

-They would most likely have a collection of dowsing rods o pendulums they use for dowsing, proudly displayed on a shelf.

-They would collect storm water in jars to use in spells; so their garden is more than likely full of jars and glasses to catch as much rainwater as possible

-Their power would be stronger during a rainstorm or thunderstorm (Coven meeting may also be planned to happen during a storm)

-The coven may be mainly water/storm witches but could also contain Green witches as the two very often have the same beliefs or spells that link to one another.

-A storm witch usually has strong emotions, symbolising a heavy storm, and may have trouble controlling them if a storm hasn’t happened recently

-Traumatic experiences or stressful situations can evoke anger or accidental spells in a storm witch. If they feel scared, Storm witches can lose control of their powers and accidentally harm others.

-Chaos motivates Storm witches, as long as they are comfortable with the chaos it can make them feel more powerful (like feeling strong winds push them around or thunder)

-Water witches would try to live as close to a body of water as possible (for example, living in the forest near a stream, or a lake, or a beachside home)

-It is very unlikely that a water witch would only use one type of water. Water witches like to utilise all types of water.

-Winter is a good season for Water Witches because Ice symbolises Creativity and balance in their spells.

-Rain water would be included in sigils and if the witch has any plants, they would use rain water. This is because Rain Water is used for energy and protection.

-Storm witches would learn to read the sky and be invested in the weather, checking multiple weather forecasts or attempting to guess the oncoming weather themselves

-If they’re outside and it randomly begins to rain, the water witch would love to get wet and would slow down the journey they were taking so they could take part in the storm.

-Water witches move at their own pace, much like water. They wont rush themselves or drop whatever they’re doing for something else. They will take their own time and motion.